Assets to be sold off after KITS collapse

TRAINING CENTRE CLOSED IN JUNE

THE collapse of a Calderdale-based training centre will see hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of equipment put up for auction.

There was shock when Kirkdale Industrial Training Services Ltd (KITS) in Brighouse announced it was closing in late June.

The centre was used by school leavers and young people from Huddersfield and across West Yorkshire.

Its sudden closure left students and apprentices high and dry just weeks before many were due to resume their training.

KITS’ considerable assets are now being sold off, including dozens of machines, tools, laptops and pieces of equipment used to train engineers and mechanics.

There are more than 1,000 lots available in total.

Howard Eastwood, Director at Walker Singleton, the chartered surveyors hosting the auction, said “As befits a training business established by some of the leading engineering companies in the region, the asset base reflects the shared high standards.

“Achieving and maintaining these standards demands high financial commitments and KITS has not shied away from providing apprentices and clients with access to the best available equipment.

“It is clear asset upgrade programs were constantly applied which, when aligned to the niche utilisation, leaves almost all the equipment having had only light use, alongside the high levels of maintenance and safety.”

KITS had gone in to pause at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic alongside all other educational and training establishments.

After an internal review during the lockdown period it was decided that due to the extremely difficult trading environment it was not economically viable to reopen.

Mr Eastwood added: “There are over 1,000 lots in the auction covering asset classes from conference/classroom equipment through general industry and training assets to state-of-the-art engineering and vehicle workshop plant.

“Demand for premium assets remains high evidenced by recent auctions we have undertaken in synergy industries and we fully expect strong and competing interest will ensue through the auction process.”

KITS was opened in 1991 to provide an outstanding centre of excellence in support of Yorkshire’s market-leading engineering heritage.

Priding itself, and the industries it served, on having a state-of-the-art training facility and services, KITS has invested millions to stay at the cutting edge.

Walker Singleton Chartered Surveyors are taking bids until August 20.